Battle.net Mandatory Starting Nov. 11 (US) / Nov. 12 (EU)

UPDATE – 12 Oct: It looks like Blizzard employees have no doubt made it clear the merges will be mandatory starting next month. Players on North American servers will need to merge their accounts before 11th November, and players on EU servers will need to merge their accounts before 12th November if they have not done so already. The threads are located here (US) and here (EU).

We all know this day was coming, but we didn't know exactly when it would happen until now: You will need to merge your WoW account in order to access it before November 11th/12th, or else your account will be inaccessible. This report came directly from Boubouille on MMO-Champion, and the source came directly from EU Blizzard's Battle.net FAQ.

The quoted FAQ and article come right after the break!

Q: What happens if I don’t merge my World of Warcraft account with a Battle.net account?A: After November 12, 2009, you won’t be able to log in to the game unless you merge your account with a Battle.net account. You will need to log in using your Battle.net account username (your email address) and password.

Q: How can I obtain the penguin pet?A: Once you’ve successfully merged a World of Warcraft account with a Battle.net account, the penguin pet will be sent via in-game mail to all existing characters on the merged World of Warcraft account, along with all future characters on that World of Warcraft account. Players who merged previously will also receive the pet this way.

Q: Do I need to merge by a certain date in order to receive the penguin?A: We plan to remove the ability to get the penguin pet at some point in the future, we haven’t determined exactly when just yet.

Q: If I create a new World of Warcraft account, will I receive the pet?A: Only existing World of Warcraft accounts that merge with a Battle.net account are eligible to receive the penguin pet. If you create a new Battle.net account after November 11 and merge an existing World of Warcraft account with it you will still be able to receive the pet. However, please note that we plan to remove the ability to get the penguin pet at some point in the future.

This is both good news and bad news to me. It's good because we're at least getting a penguin pet for merging our account, but bad because it's going to spark some negative feedback from the people who are reluctant to convert. But at least it leaves these people with a very simple choice: Either merge your account or cancel it. :P

Those who are concerned about security risks really shouldn't have anything to worry about. You can check out my previous blog on account security, as well as using a separate, isolated e-mail address for the purpose of Battle.net. As long as you maintain good browsing habits—and if you have an Authenticator, that's even better—you really should have nothing to worry about.

Thoughts on the merge? Are you happy the day has finally come? Or are you just dreading it?

Comentarios

Comentario de blackiceadept

on 2009-10-11T02:05:46-05:00

This is interesting considering that they are renaming Mr.Chilly (the penguin we are receiving from this) to Oswald in 3.3. This would also be extremely difficult to implement without a major patch or at least a medium patch. Perhaps 3.3 is around the corner?

Comentario de SirPunky

on 2009-10-11T02:09:25-05:00

As a long time user of Battle.net (10 years) of course I'm happy.

+ penguin :)

Comentario de hezec

on 2009-10-11T02:14:11-05:00

Why would it be "extremely difficult"? As far as I know, Oswald/Mr. Chilly has been in the database for months now, all they need to do is rename it and add a single new item to learn it from. That doesn't require a huge patch. And the account is really just some separately stored data on their servers, a patch shouldn't affect that in any way.

As for my own opinion... free pet, yay!

Comentario de zetenrisiel

on 2009-10-11T02:33:28-05:00

But Bliiiiiizzz, I don't wannnnnt tooooo!

Seriously though. I gave it the old college try with the battle.net thing and couldn't get it to work. can't they just take my WoW account and make it a battlenet account? keep your penguin...nevermind I'll take the penguin.

Comentario de Maurice119

on 2009-10-11T02:33:32-05:00

This is interesting considering that they are renaming Mr.Chilly (the penguin we are receiving from this) to Oswald in 3.3. This would also be extremely difficult to implement without a major patch or at least a medium patch. Perhaps 3.3 is around the corner?

Items are stored server-side, patches are absolutely unnecessary to change the name of an item.

Comentario de Jayhawk

on 2009-10-11T02:35:11-05:00

And if you don't have a battlenet account? Automatic conversion and no penguin?

Comentario de justgiz

on 2009-10-11T02:36:53-05:00

Well my account is already merged, for security. But i have a friend who says she wont merge her account, and i worry that this will be moment that she will get upset and end up quiting the game.

They shouldn't make it mandatory, sure new accounts will make a battle.net account, but FORCING old players to do it? What would make it better if the account merge would happen automatically during a tuesday maintenance.

But i am looking to some of the features that will come out.

Comentario de blackiceadept

on 2009-10-11T02:37:29-05:00

I was more speaking of the server side game distinguishing between players with the merge or not. But who knows. It's just a speculation if not a poorly founded one at that now that I think about it.

Comentario de caboosefanatic

on 2009-10-11T02:49:58-05:00

I am glad with this, no more people whining that their account was merged with someone elses Battlenet. You should merge to avoid that issue anyway.

And if you don't have a battlenet account? Automatic conversion and no penguin?

there is no automatic conversion to a battlenet account, you just wont be able to play wow until you do. (and the penguin pet will probably be removed a few days after the 12th of november)

Comentario de Jayhawk

on 2009-10-11T02:58:13-05:00

The account creation page states:

*All Blizzard Accounts have been converted into new Battle.net accounts. Learn more

I tried, but it doesn't seem true.

Comentario de Secarious

on 2009-10-11T02:59:25-05:00

I have a question:

What if your account is already merged?

Comentario de caboosefanatic

on 2009-10-11T03:02:20-05:00

hmm, idk, guess the penguin is an incentive to do it early instead of waiting, if you don't do it, to bad for you, you don't get da cool penguin!

(my previous post was thinking along the lines that it wouldn't have a email address to use but guess it would just use your email address on you wow account)

I have a question:

What if your account is already merged?

Players who merged previously will also receive the pet this way.

Comentario de Drmayhem

on 2009-10-11T03:09:09-05:00

I had no idea they were becoming mandatory. Luckily I just recently got my Battle.net account set-up.

Comentario de Femlock

on 2009-10-11T03:37:36-05:00

free penguin :D

Comentario de Patty

on 2009-10-11T03:37:48-05:00

Luckily, I quit.

Apparently there are all sorts of issues about Battle.net...

Comentario de caboosefanatic

on 2009-10-11T03:43:53-05:00

Luckily, I quit.

Apparently there are all sorts of issues about Battle.net...

like what?

Comentario de zetenrisiel

on 2009-10-11T03:51:12-05:00

ok i did it. it was a lot easier this time without all that mountain dew business mucking it up. Please start sending my junk mail and "special offers" now!

Comentario de DoctorLore

on 2009-10-11T03:54:32-05:00

I'm dreading it. Blizzard knows their system is insecure yet they're forcing it on everyone, the number of accounts hacked will rise amazingly fast.

Comentario de Ydrisselle

on 2009-10-11T04:23:02-05:00

I'm dreading it. Blizzard knows their system is insecure yet they're forcing it on everyone, the number of accounts hacked will rise amazingly fast.

The system isn't more insecure than the original was; if your account is compromised, it's your fault.

Comentario de Robotusch

on 2009-10-11T04:53:23-05:00

I'm dreading it. Blizzard knows their system is insecure yet they're forcing it on everyone, the number of accounts hacked will rise amazingly fast.

Au contraire.

The systems are equally safe, but with a mandatory battle.net account, users won't have the hassle of convincing Blizzard to detach their keylogged account from whatever battle.net it has been transferred to.